Jarange Patil begins fresh hunger strike over Maratha quota, sets Sept 12 deadline
Manoj Jarange Patil starts indefinite fast at Antarwali Sarati, demanding Kunbi OBC certificates for Marathas by Sept 12 or a march to Mumbai.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil has begun a fresh indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Maharashtra's Jalna district, reigniting the state's politically sensitive reservation debate.
Patil has set a September 12 deadline for the government to grant Kunbi OBC certificates to Maratha community members, citing 58 lakh historical records that he says establish the community's Kunbi lineage. Kunbi is an OBC sub-caste, and such certificates would make Marathas eligible for reservation benefits under the OBC category.
The activist warned that if the deadline passes without action, he would lead a protest march directly to Mumbai. The move comes amid ongoing negotiations between the state government and quota activists over how to legally provide reservation benefits to the Maratha community while navigating court challenges.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has indicated the government is open to holding talks with Patil to resolve the impasse. The administration is exploring ways to verify and process the historical records cited by the activist, though the legal and procedural complexities remain significant.
The hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati, a village that has become a focal point for the Maratha quota movement, is expected to draw large crowds of supporters in the coming days. The state government faces pressure to find a solution that satisfies both the community's demands and constitutional requirements.